How to Handle Stress at a New Job

Starting a new job can be a very exciting and stressful time in your life. The promise of new opportunities is often accompanied by the fear of the unknown. This means that many of the stressors that you feel come from not having the experience of being around new people, bosses, and an environment that is different than what you have grown accustomed to.

A little stress is actually good as it provides motivation and the extra effort needed to get you through the first few days on the job. However, too much of it can negatively affect your performance as well as your life. The good news is that there are sound ways to handle stress that are easy to employ so that you can get the most out of your new employment.

Get Plenty of Sleep

There will be enough stress with the new job, so you‘ll want to get enough sleep each night to ensure that you are ready to go during the day. You can start by going to bed five or ten minutes earlier than normal to help account for the stress.

Eat Well & Exercise

You‘ll need to eat good, healthy foods and exercise because that is one of the best ways to reduce stress. Of course, you should approach both in moderation as you do not want to become overly tired or restrict yourself to a diet too stringent for your needs. In fact, it‘s actually better to add good food to your diet instead of trying to reduce the total amount that you eat at least at first. This guarantees that you will have plenty of energy for the day.

Fresh fruit, vegetables, and plenty of carbohydrates and protein make for excellent, tasty meals. You will want to stay away from trans fats, particularly if you have a desk job. You‘ll also want to cut down on the amount of fat during lunch to keep from feeling slow and drag for the rest of the day.

Exercise should also be done in moderation as you want to stay in good shape. A brisk walk or basic exercises for 10 to 20 minutes per day will help keep you in shape and ready to go.

Communicate with Your New Boss

Remember, you were hired because of the attributes that you bring to the job. So, on your first day you should focus on getting to know your boss and surrounding co-workers. This is the time for you initial questions about the scope and responsibilities that come with working for the company. Despite what it sounds, such questions only take a few moments as you are getting familiar with the job itself.

Everyone present wants you to succeed and the first step is simply getting to know what is going on. This means that you‘ll probably make some mistakes along the way, but you can reduce that a little by asking a few questions to avoid any obvious misunderstandings.

Organize Your Day

Arguably the biggest cause of stress is the unknown. It will take time for you to get familiar and comfortable with your new surroundings, but you can start by organizing your day into a series of tasks that will need to be accomplished. This is especially true for the morning or beginning of your shift so that it is not as chaotic.

After your first day where you will start to get familiar with your job, spend a few moments each night addressing the tasks that you will begin upon arrival the next day. Of course, there are always things that appear out of nowhere which can throw you off your schedule. However, by being organized at least for the first part of your day you can better address what needs to be done and get into the flow of work.

Ask for Help

As with anyone who is new to their job, there will be times when you will need to ask for help. While the urge is there to do things by yourself, remember that there are tasks or procedures that you may be unfamiliar with which can result in making unnecessary mistakes. When you are heading into unfamiliar territory, stop and ask for help from your supporting network. This will be your boss and those around you who are part of the same team.

It may be difficult for some to ask for help, but it is important when you are lost or unsure of what to do next. Many will feel the need to demonstrate their capabilities to show their worth to the business. However, this approach can lead to mistakes or worse if you are not sure of what to do next. In times like these, it is best to approach those in the know and ask.

Show Up a Little Early

One of the most important and noticeable aspects of your new job at least to the management and everyone around you is showing up on time. People who arrive at work a little early will get the benefit of the doubt when it comes demonstrating their desire to do well. Plus, you can use the extra five or ten minutes to prepare for the day and get everything ready so that you can start quickly.

Focus on Work as Friendships will Follow

Another way to relieve the stress is to focus on the work at hand. Getting along with your co-workers will follow as a natural course of events. Your job is your job, so get your assigned tasks accomplished and you can use the downtime of breaks and lunch as the way to get to know your fellow co-workers a little better.

Overall, starting a new job can be a stressful experience. However, if you approach it in the right way by taking care of yourself in terms of diet, exercise, and sleep along with focusing on getting your assignments completed, the stress levels will come down fairly quickly. This means that you can move on and start settling into your new job with less stress that will disappear over time.